President Schapiro to New Students: 'Take a Deep Breath'

Urges new students to take advantage of all that Northwestern has to offer

September 22, 2014

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University's Wildcat Welcome orientation is complete. The Class of 2018 is ready to begin classes after a week of icebreakers, advising sessions, field trips and today's President's Convocation.

During his annual address to freshmen and transfer students, President Morton Schapiro stood on a stage overlooking Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline and reminded everyone to take a deep breath.

\"Think not just about how you are developing academically,\" he said. \"You also should think about your life. Are you having fun? Are you making friends? Are you enjoying all that Northwestern and our many great Chicago institutions have to offer?”

President Schapiro urged students to get to know their classmates and look out for one another.

Harvey Young, faculty chair of One Book One Northwestern, discussed upcoming programming around this year's community reading selection, \"Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do” by the preeminent social psychologist Claude Steele.

“This is your school, and this is your campus,\" Young said. \"No matter where you call home, you are a Wildcat. Regardless of your gender; regardless of your race; regardless of your social class; regardless of your level of physical ability; regardless of your religious or political beliefs, you are a Wildcat.”

Young is associate professor of theatre, performance studies and radio/television/film in the School of Communication and associate professor of African American studies in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. He also is acting chair of the theatre department.

The convocation featured musical performances by THUNK a cappella and the Northwestern University Marching Band.

New students also received welcomes from Dean of Students Todd Adams and Kathryn Kimura Mlsna, president of the Northwestern Alumni Association.